The mother of a teenage boy who was fatally stabbed in a case of mistaken identity is advocating for using school parents’ evenings as a platform to address the issue of knife crime.

Sixteen-year-old Ronan Kanda was tragically attacked with a 20-inch “ninja” sword while walking home in June 2022. The assailants, Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill, mistook Ronan for their intended target and fatally wounded him in Wolverhampton.

Veadhesa, who obtained the sword using his mother’s ID, along with Shergill, were sentenced to life in prison in 2023, with minimum terms of 18 and 16 years, respectively.

Since the incident, Ronan’s mother, Pooja, has been actively involved in combating youth knife crime and online sales of dangerous weapons. Legislation known as Ronan’s Law has been implemented to prohibit the sale, manufacture, or import of ninja swords in the UK. Pooja has been recognized for her efforts with an OBE award and regularly visits schools and organizations to educate young people about the perils of carrying knives.

In an interview, Pooja emphasized the importance of engaging with parents during school events to prevent children from getting involved in criminal activities. She stressed the role of parents in instilling values and preventing tragedies like her son’s death.

Pooja expressed her ongoing grief over losing her son and her determination to continue advocating for change in laws and regulations to prevent similar incidents. Legislative amendments requiring ID checks for knife purchases and a potential licensing system for knife sellers and importers are currently under consideration to enhance safety measures.

Pooja remains steadfast in her mission to raise awareness and prevent future tragedies, underscoring the importance of parental involvement and community support in tackling knife crime.